What is your exact wc method. Maybe something is getting forgotten about or not used properly. Can you list step by step your cleaning regimen?
new tank, couple days old
- Thread starter builtf0rdtough
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I turn the filter off, then siphon the water out into a 5gal bucket, usually do 2 buckets but did three last night. Then I refill the bucket, put the water cleaner in the bucket, then siphon the water back into the tank....as many as I took out. then turn the filter back on.
I just changed the filter, and sometimes I vac, but I didnt want to vac often as I would loose the good bacteria...or so I was told/read.
I dont think you loose good bacteria by sucking out all of the extra waste that accumulates in your gravel. The bacteria is covering all surfaces of your tank, sub, decor etc. The poo settles its way into the gravel and can cause you to have poor water quality. I would have to say if you have a huge accumulation of waste in your gravel that is why your tank is struggling.
What do you mean by that? Did you remove all your filter media? If so, you took the majority of your bacteria with it.
Bacteria does grow in the filter and changing the pads can destroy a lot of the bacteria as stated above. Have you added bacteria to the tank?
No I just changed the pad, I don't normally mess with any of the other things in the filter, I.E the bio block ....the thing with all the holes in it after the pad....my guess that's where the BB hang out. I just talked to a lady at pets-mart and she said its having problems because I have been changing the water too much, and that I shouldn't change the water for 1 month and see where I'm at. I told her I have fish in it and she said that they should be fine, that they are used to the high ammonia content. I don't believe half the stuff the pet store people say, but it does make sense, you keep changing the water and the ammonia doesn't have enough time to get broken down and go through the whole process. I did add some BB about a month or two ago, and it was the live BB that you buy at a real fish store, stunk and was green. lol. Other than that, no. I almost bought one of the bottles tonight of the bacteria boost. http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752206 .What do you think? give it a shot? I heard that the bottle bacteria only lasts a couple days and then your back to where you where before. no BB.
Wish you lived closer i would give you filter media. She is crazy telling you to keep them in ammonia. The best thing to do i found is don't mess with the filter at all. Wait until you are seeing nitrate then you know you are cycled. Then rinse the filter don't buy a new one. I would reuse that filter for almost two months. After your tank is cycled i rinse my media about once a week and replace it about once a month. I run two filters on all my tanks so i don't mess the bb up when changing the filter. I would just keep doing water changes and keep an eye on your ammonia. Another good idea would be get another filter and run two. Good luck. When you get over this stage it gets easier trust me.
